Rockingham Times

City of Portsmouth issued the following announcement on September 28.

The Portsmouth City Council will conduct an onsite review and then hold a public hearing in City Hall Council Chambers on Thursday, October 14, 2021 for the purpose of receiving evidence and hearing public comment relative to the layout of the Peverly Hill Road Improvement Project and the property acquisitions (permanent and temporary easements) to make that project successful. The improvements include the addition of a sidewalk on the north side of the road, a shared-use path for bicycles and pedestrians on the south side of the road, drainage improvements and road layout changes. The project extends from the intersection of Peverly Hill Road and Middle Road to the intersection of Peverly Hill Road and West Road.

The City Council will assemble at 5 pm in the Eileen Dondero Foley Council Chambers to open the hearing and will then conduct a site visit. The site visit will start at the parking lot of the New Hope Baptist Church at 263 Peverly Hill Road to answer City Councilor questions and make any on-foot site visits. The public is welcome to attend that site view, although no testimony from the public will be taken at that time. 

After the site visit, the hearing will be recessed and then reconvened at the Eileen Dondero Foley Council Chambers at 7 pm, for purposes of taking testimony and action. Members of the public may participate in person or via Zoom. For the Zoom registration, click here.

Impacted and interested property owners, roadway users and all members of the public are welcome and will be given the opportunity to be heard.

For project information, including a full plan set, click here.                                                        

Physical copies of the plan set and maps showing the affected areas may also be viewed in person by appointment at the Department of Public Works, located at 680 Peverly Hill Road, Portsmouth. Questions regarding the project work may be directed to the project engineer Brian Colburn of McFarland Johnson, bcolburn@mjinc.com.  Questions with regard to process may be directed to Suzanne Woodland, Acting Deputy City Manager/Deputy City Attorney, 603-610-7240, smwoodland@cityofportsmouth.com.

This hearing initiates the eminent domain process, should the City of Portsmouth be unable to reach voluntary agreements with owners to acquire the easement interests needed for the project. The Federal funding being used for this project requires a formal process and this hearing is a part of that process.

Original source can be found here.